Web materials exhibiting elastic-like behavior

• US 5,891,544 A
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University), The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Mansfield, Michele A., Sorensen, Eugene R., Henrich, Tom, Curro, John J., Buell, Kenneth B., Chappell, Charles W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, James J.
• Application Number:
  US08/940,242
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 428/76, 428/167, 428/171, 428/172, 442/328, 442/394, 442/398, 604/358
• US Class Current: 428/76
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15707 Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51466 providing stretchability without the use of elastic material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 55/18 by squeezing between surfaces, e.g. rollers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/239 Complete cover or casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24603 Fiber containing component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/601 Nonwoven fabric has an elastic quality
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/674 Nonwoven fabric with a preformed polymeric film or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/678 Olefin polymer or copolymer sheet or film [e.g., polypropylene, polyethylene, ethylene-butylene copolymer, etc.]

Abstract

A package including a web material that exhibits an elastic-like behavior along at least one axis when subjected to an applied and subsequently released elongation. The web material includes a strainable network having at least two visually distinct regions of the same material composition. The first region undergoes a molecular-level deformation and the second region initially undergoes a substantially geometric deformation when the web material is subjected to an applied elongation in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of elongation.

Claims

1. A package comprising

(a) a first absorbent article;

(b) a wrapping material wrapping at least a portion of said first absorbent article, the wrapping material having at least a first region and a second region being comprised of the same material composition, said first region undergoing a substantially molecular-level deformation and said second region initially undergoing a substantially geometric deformation when said wrapping material is subjected to an applied elongation along at least one axis.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein said first absorbent article is a sanitary napkin.

3. The package of claim 2, further comprising a second sanitary napkin wherein said wrapping material wraps at least a portion of both said first and said second sanitary napkins.

4. The package of claim 1, wherein said first absorbent article is a disposable diaper.

5. The package of claim 4, further comprising a second disposable diaper wherein said wrapping material wraps at least a portion of both said first and said second disposable diapers.

6. The package of claim 1, wherein said first absorbent article is a tampon.

7. The package of claim 6, further comprising a second tampon wherein said wrapping material wraps at least a portion of both said first and said second tampons.

8. The package of claim 1, wherein said wrapping material is a laminate of two or more materials at least one of which is a nonwoven material.

9. A package for one or more individually wrapped absorbent articles comprising:

(a) a first absorbent article;

(b) a first wrapping material wrapping said first absorbent article, the first wrapping material having at least a first region and a second region being comprised of the same material composition, said first region undergoing a substantially molecular-level deformation and said second region initially undergoing a substantially geometric deformation when said wrapping material is subjected to an applied elongation along at least one axis; and

(c) a second wrapping material wrapping at least a portion of said individually wrapped first absorbent article, the second wrapping material having at least a first region and a second region being comprised of the same material composition, said first region undergoing a substantially molecular-level deformation and said second region initially undergoing a substantially geometric deformation when said wrapping material is subjected to an applied elongation along at least one axis.

10. The package of claim 9 further comprising:

(a) a second absorbent article; and

(b) a third wrapping material wrapping said second absorbent article, the third wrapping material having at least a first region and a second region being comprised of the same material composition, said first region undergoing a substantially molecular-level deformation and said second region initially undergoing a substantially geometric deformation when said wrapping material is subjected to an applied elongation along at least one axis;

wherein said second wrapping material wraps at least a portion of both said first and said second individually wrapped absorbent articles.

11. The package of claim 10, wherein said first and said second absorbent articles are sanitary napkins.

12. The package of claim 10, wherein said first and said second absorbent articles are tampons.

13. The package of claim 10, wherein said first and said second absorbent articles are disposable diapers.

14. A package for one or more individually wrapped absorbent articles comprising:

(a) a first absorbent article;

(b) a first wrapping material wrapping said first absorbent article; and

(c) a second wrapping material wrapping at least a portion of said individually wrapped first absorbent article, the second wrapping material having at least a first region and a second region being comprised of the same material composition, said first region undergoing a substantially molecular-level deformation and said second region initially undergoing a substantially geometric deformation when said wrapping material is subjected to an applied elongation along at least one axis.

15. The package of claim 14 further comprising:

(a) a second absorbent article; and

(b) a third wrapping material wrapping said second absorbent article;

wherein said second wrapping material wraps at least a portion of both said first and said second individually wrapped absorbent articles.

16. The package of claim 15, wherein said first and said second absorbent articles are sanitary napkins.

17. The package of claim 15, wherein said first and said second absorbent articles are tampons.

18. The package of claim 15, wherein said first and said second absorbent articles are disposable diapers.